Govt to amend 50 labour laws

NEW DELHI: Focusing on social security and welfare for the labour in the unorganised sector, the government plans to amend at least 50 labour laws.

The government has decided to enact a legislation during the Budget Session incorporating features of welfare and security for the unorganised sector and to amend at least 50 labour laws as there is need for change, Labour Minister Sahib Singh Verma told reporters here on Tuesday.

A two-day national seminar is being organised here on November 7 and 8 to deliberate on these issues and all initiatives taken by the Centre for the unorganised sector.

"Over 360 million people do not have social security.... It is a sad situation," Verma said, adding multiplicity of laws and schemes hinder effective implementation.

He said several occupations which were not covered under the organised sector should be examined and brought under it.

To be inaugurated by Dy chairman of the Planning Commission K C Pant and attended by representatives of central and state governments, trade unions, employers, experts and NGOs, the seminar will also discuss skill upgradation and training unskilled labour.

He said one way of tackling the issues of unorganised sector could be through expanding and strengthening institutional mechanisms of Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC).

However, he said his ministry did not propose to bring down the 9.05 per cent interest rate on the contributiuons made in EPF saying there was no need to do so.